Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-05-23
JUDGE ROGERS is DEAD,
IOwa's Eminent Lawyer Passes
From Earth.
His Death Yesterday Morning -
sketch of his Distinguished Career
---some of the Important Cases he
has Taken Part in.

city and state in which the deceased was
so much respected and wherein the dis
tuinguished himself 1t is was District
Judge John NJ Rogers who thus passed
away after brief illness. He had been
ailing for some time. and a week ago was
obliged to retire temporarily from the
active requirements Of the bench. The
terrible death of his son, an only child.
in the Mississippi river two years ago,
completely unnerved and Frustrated him.
and his friends have noticed gradual
decline since.
Judge Rogers was native of New
York City, where he was born on the
18th of November, 1880, the son of a very
successful merchant, who was able to
provide his children with the best edu>
cstional facilities in the country. Mr.. |
Rogers was fitted for college in the
schools at Fairfield and Northampton, |
and in 1S45 entered the university of the
city of New York. from which he gradu>
atued in 1s4S with the highest honors of
his class. He spent year in teaching
in Augusta, Georgia He returned north
in 40, and commenced the study of Law
and was admitted to the bar in
February, 1852. The next year he ac>
cepted an invitation to become professor
of pleading, practice and evidence in
the State aud National Law school in
Pougbkeepsie, N Y. He occupied the
chair two years. after which he returned
to New York City and commenced the
practice of his profession. In 1857 he
removed to Davenport aud entered into
partnership with the late W FL F. Cur
ley, who was United States district at
torney for Iowa during President Lin
coins administration. In 1860. the firm
dissolved and that of Putnam & Rogers
was formed, continuing for twenty-five
years. In that quarter of century Mr..
Rogers was leading counsel in some of
the heaviest suits and most important
questions of the law that have arisen in
the Iowa state as well as federal courts,
and with the best of results for his repu
tstiou. He has been instrumental in set
thing vexed questions in underwriting
and commercial law, as well as compli-
Gated questions of constitutional and stat
utorY Interpretation. One of the most
notable recent instances of his power
was exhibited in the case of the United
States on the relation of Holl and Morse
against the Union Pacific railroad CONS
pany, begun in the United States circuit
court of Iowa and carried to the supreme
court, in which Mr.. Rogers as attorney
for the city of Council Bluffs, succeeded
ia establishing, against very able lawyers
and the strenuous opposition of the rails
road company, the fact that the legal
eastern terminus of the line was at
Sbuutll luebCdu VI ouldDd, anu
consequently the bridge between the two
cities was part of the railroad, and
must be operated as such. The case ins
volved several new and intricate ques-
tons, as well rs the construction of sew
eral acts of congress. Judge Dillon of
the circuit court, and finally the supreme
court, sustained Mr.. Rogers throughout
the long and protracted struggle. Of late
years his principal practice has been in
| the United States courts He has devoted
himself constantly to his practice. He
has filled few public offices serving one
term as representative in the general as
sembly and two years as city attorney for
Davenport.
He WAS for many years president of the
Davenport board of education, and was
for some time a lecturer on constitutional
law in the law department of the Iowa
State University. In 1875 he was urged
to accept the office of district Judge
| across the river, and four years ago he was
prominently talked of for the supreme
bench of the state, but refused to allow
| the use of his name for either officel
Under the new law of Iowa revising
the Judicial districts. Mr.. Rogers was
elected one of the judges of the seventh
district last fall. After Judge Rogers
was nominated for that position, the
leading papers in the state, and in Chica
90 and St. Louis, spoke of him as one of
the most eminent lawyers in the west.
| and some of them wondered at his aban-
dOniDg practice for the bench.
He leaves two sisters rs bis only near
relatives, Mrs. Allen of Cleveland. Ohio
and Miss Harriet Rogers, who has been
his housekeeper for years. His wife died
over twenty years ago. The funeral will
be held from his late home in Davenport
at O'Clock tomorrow afternoon, and the
body will be taken to Warwick, N Y,
| for Iuterment.
There is already considerable talk rs
| to his successor, Hon Nathaniel French,
ex-circuit Judge, being most favorably
spoken of. He will probably be recon
| mended by the bar and appointed by
| Gov. Larrabee.
County Building.
| TRANSFERS.
May 19--Alice w Burial to Chas. G
| -. l.. n